4 months in SE Asia backpacking without Van, now home...

[Deleted member 11815]

Well, we have returned from our first major trip without the Van which was having a well earned rest. We had our first ever backpacking adventure, 4 months in SE Asia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Amazing how naive we were on all things Asia before we left and how little we knew!

But – the trip far trumped every trip we’ve ever undertaken. It was immense. We met loads of people, from students to a few our age, and even retired folk backpacking for the first time. Shows ANYONE can do it... We hardly skimped: Double ensuite AC rooms almost every night; eating out every day; using “good” transport links, and doing everything we wanted. TOTAL cost under £7k for both of us which, considering what is did, is peanuts.

Our blog index for SE Asia is Backpacking South East Asia >

Hope this inspires some of you to maybe do similar

Next week we'll be in the UK in the Van in Wiltshire way house hunting and settling down for a bit ready for our next adventures... So latest wildcamping database downloaded and ready to use!

Here are a few small pics to whet your appetite...

 

[oldish hippy]

welcome back glad you had a great time

 

[Tbear]

Looks Fantastic. Thankyou for sharing it with us.

Richard

 

[Deleted member 11815]

It was!

Imagine not cooking, cleaning, driving, doing laundry and living like a King in the nice warm sun...... Ah yes.....

Making a coffee myself this morning was a bit of a shock!

 

[Solwaybuggier]

Glad you're back safe, Ryan & Mel - we're just started out on our 2 month stay in Vietnam - and I have to say that your advice/lists/blog/etc have been amazingly helpful (& reassuring) to us. (Even though only today we've been talking about having brought too many clothes!)

And (as retired first-time backpackers of the sort you refer to,) I can only encourage anyone else there to have a go themselves - currently sat in a resort room in Vietnam (Mui Ne) within 20 yards of the S China Sea, very comfortable, all for £16 a night - cheaper than most campsites at home!

Missing the van, though....